Is violent change inevitable in Ethiopia?

As the Ethiopian government intensifies its violent suppression of the populace in the lead up to the illusion of national elections in May, there are many within the country and the diaspora who believe a popular armed uprising is the only way to bring about change in the country. The people’s frustration and anger towards the government is understandable as is their bewilderment at the neglect and complicity of Ethiopia’s major donors. America, the European Union and Britain collectively give almost half of Ethiopia’s federal budget in various aid packages, are well aware of the regime’s brutal form of governance and shamefully do and say nothing.

The ruling regime, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) came to power in 1992 when they overthrew the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE). The ideologically driven group of freedom fighters led by Meles Zenawi ousted the Derg dictatorship and drew up a new liberal constitution based on democratic principles of freedom and human rights. Once enthroned in Addis Ababa, however, they swiftly followed in their predecessor’s repressive footsteps and all democratic ideals where neatly filed away to be forgotten about.

The government has imprisoned almost all major opposition leaders, as well as large numbers of troublesome journalists. An array of repressive laws has been passed to suffocate dissent and virtually criminalise freedom of expression and assembly – all contrary to their own constitution and in violation of a plethora of international conventions which they have dutifully signed up to.

With the major opposition party leaders behind bars and the regime maintaining total control of the electoral process the result of the forthcoming May election is a forgone conclusion. It is a hollow piece of democratic theatre, which the European Union has refused to legitimise with a team of observers, a mistake in my view, but understandable given the distorted result of the past two elections which the EU observed but did not validate.

Unite and act

Given the repressive picture in the country and the regime’s total intransigence, the frustration of huge numbers of people inside and outside the country is unsurprising. But is an armed uprising the way forward, would it be successful in ousting the ruling regime, or would there be a tightening of repressive legislation – the ‘rebel group’ branded as terrorists, large numbers of deaths and arrests and perhaps a long drawn out civil war igniting conflicts between one ethnic group and another?

Is violence and hate ever the way to counter violence and hate? Not according to Martin Luther King, who presided over a largely peaceful civil rights movement in America, against an extremely violent, not to say ignorant adversary; “darkness”, he said “cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

That other giant of non-violence, Mohandas Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement undermined the British, united the population and was crucial in bringing about independence in India. His legacy is vital, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has said, “in today’s world where the rights of too many people are still violated,” so is his means of achieving his goal.

Like all repressive regimes the EPRDF follows a systematic methodology of divide and rule; the answer to such crude means of control is unity.

We are living in unprecedented times, times of tremendous opportunity and potential change; out of step with the times the days are numbered for regimes like the EPRDF – it is a question of when they collapse – not if.

The people of Ethiopia, and those who make up the diaspora in Europe, America and elsewhere need to come together, and overcome their apathy and fear, organize themselves and take responsibility for their own destiny, be creative, be heartened and learn from movements in Tunisia, Hong Kong, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil and elsewhere.

They need to be inspired by the strategic actions successfully employed in the non-violent struggle led by Gandhi, and find the courage to act peacefully, to unite against what is a brutal group of men who are despised by the people and have no legitimacy to govern Ethiopia, and act with love not hate, to bring lasting change to their country.

50 comments:

Ethiopia is 15 times smaller but their revenue is only 3.5 times more than eritrea. Eritrea will not only be able to balance it's budget but it will be making money in two years time. Plus that we probably will make more money than ethiopia in maximum 5 years. I feel worry for tiny ethiopia

How dare you are? Please on what you the name "ethiopea" swap it by eritrea then u feel and understand how lifeless your notions are. Ethiopns weather it is for thier good or not they are sruggln 4 democracy, what your own people do u thing have got?demo,hypo,libro, dicto, -chracy nothing have we seen

How dare you are? Please on every place you mentioned the name "ethiopea" swap it by eritrea then u feel and understand how lifeless your notions are. Ethiopns weather it is for thier good or not they are sruggln 4 democracy, what your own people do u thing have got?demo,hypo,libro, dicto, -chracy nothing have we seen

Accept it, Weyane is finished. If there is single Agame who thinks 6 million Tigrai is to continue blood-sucking 90 million Ethiopians, then that person is either living in a dream world or he has not seen the volcano that has erupted to consume the Weyane..

At this point in time there are two definite course where Ethiopia is heading. Either (1) there shall be a united Ethiopia with the rest of the Ethiopians, especially the Oromoa in control of Ethiopian direction or (2) there shall be a Balkanized Ethiopia.

Which direction Ethiopia goes in the coming days will all depend on the Amhara. If the Amhara are smart, they will choose to live in peace with the rest of Ethiopia whose number is as high as 70 million. As for Weyane, either in a united Ethiopia or in the Balkanized Ethiopia, the Weyane is finished with their Abay Tigrai dream evaporating int to thin air for good.

Do not forget, after every thing is said and done the Amhara are coming back to claim their Begemidir and Wollo lands, pushing Tigrai to is pre-1991 boundary. You and I know the pre-1991 Tigrai.

You mean rigged elections??? And free press, even BBC and Al-Jazeera have reported on your so called "free press", you people are even putting foreign reporter into jail; white men that have nothing to do with your country. You are having a laugh. You Ethiopians are so deluded

The author may not be Eritrean, but by posting this article on an Eritrean website you are implying fault on the Ethiopians from a stand point of Eritrea being better some how. It's amazing how some people can be so blind to the suffering of people, in the name of development.

I have a feeling this militia junta called weyane is the END of its reign in 2015. but this looters must be captured, they have billions of us$ in foreign banks and corporationsone well-known Ethiopian has said knows a lot about the billions of ethiopian moneyin foreign corp. invested specially by Sium Mesfun, Meles Zenawi and others with their immediate family members. "SIUM tekedan WOCHO" you can't run from crime.lice-eater.

Do you understand now? How can this be? 1000 individuals? 78% of ethiopias tax revenues? How the hell can this corrupt slave-aid begging nation be the "darling of the west"? How the hell can this government even exist today?

Why do care about Ethiopea? i can see your eyes burning ? envy! all your comments are intended for seeing the distruction of Ethiopea? No no it should be that way?dont forget you are nothing but earth, you will be consumed one day.Specialy you Hidrom Preach no bullshit, as an Eritrean Ethio is better now than we,atleast they can sleep peacfully?but my brothers and sisters are being turtured everywhere. Why would one leave the sweet land unless he/she deprived peace ?so peace is whats important that the ethiopeans have.I cant stop crying to see my people scattered to all directioni am afraid my country would not fellow ancient assryia

we never liked lice eaters, they believe in stealing,deceiving,cheatingselling their body, for them is normal, just to say the amhara call them"YesewQmal" unless you beat them like animal they never listen said one Ethiopian scholar.

"Nearly 78% of Ethiopia's tax revenue came from fewer than 1,000 individuals in 2012, the Ethiopian customs and revenue department recently reported."

(http://www.theguardian.com/pol...

Do you understand now? How can this be? 1000 individuals? 78% of ethiopias tax revenues? How the hell can this corrupt slave-aid begging nation be the "darling of the west"? How the hell can this government even exist today?

Are you the one praising Woyane every day in the neo-colonial order radio Erena? You are not Eritrean, please join the woyane junta websites.Madote please ban this woyane agent Tigraway from posting on Eritrean web sites.

Layleylaley - why do you care so much about Ethiopia? Why aren't you all vented up and upset about the recent news that $800 million has been found in secret accounts belonging to Eritreans at the Swiss bank, HSBC? Where as accounts in the name of Ethiopians in the same bank is $10 million. If you are a true Eritrean, you need to be talking about where all that money in the name of Eritrea came from and why it is in a secret swiss account. Let the Ethiopians worry about their problems. You have more than enough of your own to last you several life times.

Aman - Rigged or not rigged there's an election in Ethiopia. When was the last time there was an election in Eritrea? When was the last time Issayas held a sham election because he felt some semblance of respect for his people and pretended that there's freedom in Eritrea? You're brain-dead.

HIDROM - Yes but, the days of the Blood sucking Shabea on Ethiopian resources are long over. Eritreans will never live in Ethiopia again. Those who remain will eventually be forced out to return to their motherland, the rotting dead, humiliated, embarrassed and still-born, Eritrea.

Can you proof I am not Eritrea. You right I think I am not ,though my dad and mom are Eritreans who their love never drained to the land of their forefathers. The truths, anyone who speaks the truth is considered as non citizen as your thought.

In the end, may be I were not Eritrean, all my efforts and energy goes to the people suffering out there. Leaders come so they fall but the Land shall live.My people are tortured,imprisoned,enslaved, forced to leave their land ?what for ? are they all traitors , not all really. I wish you will re-evaluate Your perspective and work Toward the relief our peoples misery and your childrens' future.To your knowledge, dont segregatte saying you are this you are what, its true and natutal people of same nation to have different views but these is resolved through nogetiontion on the table and infact is not the priority at the moment.

No need to proof your blood weather it is Eritrean or not; hence, I can see the Woyane Ebola has nulled your dead brain cells, so there are thousands of Eritreans who are like you, who hate themselves and their nationality but adore others and that is cardinal sin!!!Years ago Amara were behaving like beasty animals like the way you behaving now, it is your turn to act like turd namely WOY-ANE!!!

what you have done to your people as being loyal ? What have got calling swearing at me ?if you are smart ,you will have regretted right after you read this.If you are intelligent , you will seek to bring Peace and harmoy to the most vulenrable ppl on the planet. We are brothers of those who have been exploited Their organs I am sister of those who have ransomed unheard wadWe are the witness of who have been in underground cells for decadeWe are modern israellites who wander every corner of the horizon.

What not, , , , If me and you are implanting hate, distrust and disrespect among each other rather be caring and working together, worse will follow up and very sadly innocent live will cost us . my beloved land is susceptible now , war trumps are heard ,,,.,,Who will cry and tell us to God, my mothers have long before they lost their eyes.Who will defend all drowned except my old grand fathers who even cant keep a gun.

Those days oh my land i will bitterly see you going downCause no one seem to help except those gone.

That's not a "feeling" you're having. That's just your lice covered carcass itching. Nothing more. You don't have the intellect, the inteligence nor the brain to pontificate on Ethiopian politics. Concentratre on your one-man rule government who's evolving into a god which you'll be forced to get on your knees and worship sooner than later.

Laleylaley - You can't balance a budget when you dont' have an economy. Also a piece of toilet paper has more value than the sandbox you call "Eritrea". You need to worry about Eritrea. Ethiopia has 90 million of her own childer to worry about her. We don't need the worries of the Anbeta.